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Climate Change-Related Emergencies

and AWA Regulated Facilities

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Weather-related and environmental threats that regulated facilities have always

faced are becoming more frequent and extreme because of climate change. AWAregulated facilities can plan for climate-related emergencies to safeguard the

welfare of animals in their care and the resilience of their business.

Know Your Risks

Drought

Climate change impacts rainfall, causing droughts to be more frequent, severe, and

prolonged. Droughts may result in shortages in the water and food supply, can lead

to concurrent natural hazards such as wildfires, and can impact a region for years.

Dependency on only one type of food source such as drought-vulnerable

grasses or crops can put the health and welfare of your animals at risk.

Parched landscapes can bring increased risk of fire.

Water may not be readily available to fight fires.

Lack of fire breaks around animal housing structures leave them in harm's way.
Failure to have safe evacuation routes and sites could mean catastrophic loss in

a fire event.

Temperature Extremes

Extreme heat and cold may affect the health and well-being of both animals and

humans. In combination with other hazards, such as drought or wildfires, extreme

heat can be devastating to a community.

Winter storms may interrupt power or water for days or weeks.

Heat stress (hyperthermia) and cold stress (hypothermia) can strike your

animals, visitors and staff.

High temperatures, especially if there is no shade, shelter, and fresh water, can

especially stress young and senior animals, and those with special health

needs.

Animals housed outdoors during winter storms and extreme cold can lose body

heat if they don't have draft-free shelters large enough to allow normal postural

movements.

Drinking water can freeze in winter.

Fire, Storms, and Floods

Wind and storms are not just a coastal danger during hurricanes. High winds, heavy

rain, flooding, and tornados can happen far inland. There is usually advanced

warning which can allow for time to prepare for evacuation. In contrast, urban and

wildland fires can happen anywhere at any time, with very little warning, and move

very quickly, despite plans such as prioritizing which animals will be evacuated

ahead of time.

Lack of transport and pre-arranging a safe destination can leave your animals

without an escape plan.

Leaving small animals such as dogs, cats, goats, and small exotics indoors for

protection may not be as helpful as you expect without access to plenty of food

and water if you can not return.

Lack of a practiced evacuation plan can leave your animals without water, feed,

hay and veterinary supplies

Restraining large animals when left behind does not allow them to seek large

pastures on high ground that are free of debris, large objects and power lines.
Depending on the types of animals you leave behind and their needs, you may

need to plan for a human "ride-out" team and how they will safely shelter in

place as the storm blows through.

General Recommendations for Regulated

Facilities

Licensees and registrants should educate themselves on how climate change may

impact their facilities and communities. Numerous resources detailing the effects of

climate change can be found below. Reviewing these resources can help you identify

critical issues that could impact your facility. We recommend that you consider

these issues when reviewing and making updates to your facility's contingency plan.

By planning for these potential extremes, you can help to mitigate the impact of a

natural disaster on animals, staff, and property.

USDA highly encourages you to build relationships with local, state, and federal

emergency management partners to stay informed of potential hazards and be able

to share resources when disasters occur. Most disasters don't happen in a vacuum.

Emergency response is a highly choreographed activity and understanding how your

facility folds into it can help your business survive an emergency event. Remember

that partnering now can mean getting help later when your facility really needs it.

For example, offering up some of your parking lot space for a staging or storage

area during a local response could mean your local law enforcement knows exactly

where your facility is when you need to evacuate your animals.

Below is a list of considerations for some common climate-related disasters.

Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Conserve water and have

alternative water sources

Have alternative food

sources for pastured

animals when grasses and

crops are scarce

Plan for evacuation
Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Recognize the signs of

heat illness in animals and

humans, especially for

young and older animals,

and those with special

health conditions

Provide animals adequate

shade and shelter

Provide sources of fresh

water for animals, staff,

and visitors

Have a cooling plan for

individuals with heat

illness (include a cool

location, medical

treatment, possible

transport)

Have a current written

contingency plan that

everyone knows and has

practiced

Provide a copy of your

contingency plan and

animal inventory to local

Emergency Management

Know evacuation zones,

routes, and methods

Have an evacuation site

for animals with

agreements in place

(discuss biosecurity issues

in advance)

Keep trailers and vehicles

in good working condition
Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Ensure fencing and

buildings are built strong

and are in good repair to

prevent flying debris

Fill large vessels such as

troughs or bins with water

to keep them from

blowing away

Store liquid fuel and other

chemicals in secure

locations

Protect feed and hay

supplies from wind, rain,

standing water

Prepare for power

outages; have an

alternate power source

(i.e, generator) available if

your animals need power

to survive

Stores of items such as

fence repair supplies,

chain saws and fuel are

also helpful as these items

may also be difficult to

acquire if supply channels

are disrupted

Pay attention to

emergency information

and alerts. If you live in a

mandatory evacuation

zone and are told to

evacuate, do so

immediately.
Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Wait until conditions are

safe to check on your

animals.

Do not return evacuated

animals until conditions

are safe.

Assess your animals and

building structures after

the storm.

Contact your veterinarian

if any animals are injured.

Look for damage, stability

issues, loose debris and

safety issues at your

facility. Make emergency

repairs to keep your

animals safe and

contained. Stay away from

downed powerlines.

Provide animals with clean

water and

uncontaminated food.

Check in with local and

state authorities if any of

your animals have

escaped or if deaths result

in animal carcass disposal

needs.

Maintain a current written

animal inventory for your

facility and identify

animals (microchip, ear

tag, tattoo, collars,

photos)
Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Have equipment available

and in good condition to

recapture escaped

animals (halters, leads,

trailers etc.)

Bring animals into a barn

or shelter well in advance

of a storm if possible, and

provide plenty of food and

water. Build strong

shelters that can

withstand high wind and

heavy rain.

Never leave animals tied

up outside in any manner

such that they cannot

escape danger.

Keep a 3 to 5 day supply

of food and potable water

on hand for all animals

along with any necessary

medications.

Keep extra crates on hand

use to temporarily house

or move smaller sized

animals.

Sign up for your

community’s warning

system or have a NOAA

Weather Radio on hand if

you live in an area with a

greater risk of tornados.
Considerations General Drought Heat

Winter

Storm

Storm,

Tornado Fire Flood

Focus on keeping yourself,

your family and your

employees safe. Injured

people have limited ability

to protect animals in their

care.

See More See Less

More Information

The following websites may help prepare your facility for climate-change challenges.

Extreme Heat | Ready.gov

Extreme Heat | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC

Climate Change and Extreme Heat: What You Can Do to Prepare

Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Partnership (zahp.org)

Drought Preparedness | Water Conservation | Red Cross

Drought | Ready.gov

Drought Makes its Home on the Range – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the

Planet

Hazard Planning & Preparedness | Drought.gov

Ready.gov

Natural Disaster: Animal Preparation and Response

Prepare Livestock and Animals Ahead of Severe Weather | USDA

Tornadoes and Your Livestock

Tornadoes and Your Pets